Help with mobo settings on new build

[natastna2]

Hi guys, I recently built a computer consisting of a P35C-DS3R mobo, a Q6600 2.4 ghz energy efficient CPU and Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 TwinX (2x1GB). The timings when i bought the RAM said 4-4-4-12 but when I look in CPU-Z it says 5-5-5-18. Should I change the timings in the BIOS to match 4-4-4-12 or am I being stupid? Also do I need to do anything else in the BIOS such as changing the CPU FSB or is that unneccessary. Thanks a lot for all your help. Ant.

 

[evongugg]

Go in the Bios and change those settings to 4-4-4-12.
Look at the values in the SPD screen. It will tell you the recommended speed for 4-4-4-12.
If you want to use 4-4-4-12 at a speed different than what is recommended run Prime95 for 4 hours and check for errors.

 

[natastna2]

Thanks for the reply. I've found out how to access the Mem timings menu in the BIOS. Should I just change it to 4-4-4-12 or do I have to change anything else such as voltages. THanks a lot for your help. I'm fairly knew to this

 

[natastna2]

In your professional opinion, is it worth me messing around in the BIOS to change it from 5-5-5-18 to 4-4-4-12, would I see any kind of improvement or shoudl I just leave it alone. I like to get the most out of my system but don't like to take unneccesary risks. Also, how do I know what voltage I should stick it at. Thanks a lot. Ant.

 

[systemlord]

In your professional opinion, is it worth me messing around in the BIOS to change it from 5-5-5-18 to 4-4-4-12, would I see any kind of improvement or shoudl I just leave it alone. I like to get the most out of my system but don't like to take unneccesary risks. Also, how do I know what voltage I should stick it at. Thanks a lot. Ant.

The only reason your having to change your timing is because SPD speed ratings are there so that most mobo will boot without problems. Its better to have the lowest timings possible, don't worry about messing anything up because your computer/bios has safe guards to protect your hardware. DDR2 800 running 4-4-4-12 should run at 2.0-2.1 volts, some run as low as 1.95v.

 

[evongugg]

Under the SPD tab, it should show the recommended voltage for the memory (CPU-Z v1.41). Set your Bios memory voltage to that.
4-4-4-12 is better than 5-5-5-18 at the same memory speed.

 

[natastna2]

Thanks a lot for the help guys. I've changed the timings to 4-4-4-12 and put the voltage up .3 which should make it the 2.1 that is recommended for those timings under cpuz. The ram i have is Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 TwinX (2x1GB) and in my old comp I had 2GB DDR2 PC2-4200U. Is it worth putting the old ram in my new motherboard and having 4gb ram running at the slower 4400 speed or is it better just to flog it off and leave my 2gb going at 800mhz. Thanks so much for your help. This forum is a lifesave

 

[cyberjock]

Well, you seem to already have it up and running, so that's good. I'd try booting without the +.3v increase to see if it works. Prime95 is a good program to stress your computer, but it can't test all of the RAM. I recommend Memtest86+ for that as there's only like 50k of RAM that won't be tested using the boot CD. It's also free so nobody can complain about the price. Just run memtest86+ before bed and let it run all night.

As for 'seeing' the performance increase. I'd say you probably won't notice.

Not to sound like i'm talking down to you, but if you are asking if the different in CAS will be noticable, you surely aren't one of the power users that will notice. I'm not a car guy, but if someone put in a turbocharger, nitro and whatnot I might notice because I just drive to and from work/store/movies. But, if I were taking my car racing all the time, I'm sure i'd know something was up, even if I didn't know anyone did anything to my car.